# Combine Weft

### What It Does

Combine Weft merges the treadling from two open documents, either by **interleaving** (inserting source picks between existing picks, increasing the total pick count) or by **overlaying** (adding source treadle assignments on top of existing picks, keeping the same pick count).

This is the weft companion to Interleave Warp — while Interleave Warp combines threadings, Combine Weft combines treadling sequences.

***

### Location

* **Ribbon**: Design tab > Combine group > Combine Weft button

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### The Dialog

#### Source Document

A dropdown of all other open documents. Select the document whose treadling you want to combine with your current draft.

#### Combine Type

**Interleave** — Inserts source picks between your existing picks, increasing the total number of picks. The result alternates: one pick from the current draft, one from the source, and so on.

**Overlay** — Places source treadle assignments onto existing picks without adding new ones. The pick count stays the same, but picks gain additional treadle activations.

#### Start at Pick

The pick number where combining begins (1-based). Picks before this position are left unchanged.

#### Shift Right

A treadle offset applied to the source's treadle assignments (0 to number of treadles available). This shifts the source treadling to different treadle positions, keeping it separate from your current treadling.

#### Ratio

Controls how frequently source picks are inserted or overlaid:

* **1:1** — Every pick gets a source pick (one source per one current)
* **2:1** — Every second pick gets a source pick
* **3:1** — Every third pick, and so on

Higher ratios spread the source picks more thinly through the fabric.

#### Options

**Copy colors** — Bring the source's weft colors.

**Copy thickness** — Bring the source's thickness values.

**Repeat source** — Cycle the source treadling if it's shorter than the current draft.

**Wrap treadles** — Wrap treadle numbers that exceed the maximum instead of expanding the treadle count.

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### How It Works

#### Interleave Mode

Source picks are inserted between existing picks:

```
Current:  1  2  3  4
Source:   A  B  C  D  (ratio 1:1)
Result:   1  A  2  B  3  C  4  D  (8 picks total)
```

With a 2:1 ratio:

```
Current:  1  2  3  4  5  6
Source:   A  B  C        (ratio 2:1)
Result:   1  2  A  3  4  B  5  6  C  (9 picks total)
```

#### Overlay Mode

Source treadle assignments are added to existing picks:

```
Current:  Treadle 1, Treadle 2, Treadle 3
Source:   Treadle A, Treadle B, Treadle C
Result:   Treadle 1+A, Treadle 2+B, Treadle 3+C  (same 3 picks)
```

When overlaying with a shift, the draft automatically converts to multi-treadle mode if needed, allowing multiple treadles to be active on the same pick.

***

### How to Use It

1. Open both documents — your current draft and the source draft
2. Go to **Design tab > Combine Weft**
3. Select the **Source Document**
4. Choose **Interleave** or **Overlay**
5. Set the **Start at Pick**
6. Set **Shift Right** if you want the source on different treadles
7. Set the **Ratio** (1:1 for every pick, 2:1 for every other, etc.)
8. Check the options you want
9. Click **Apply**

***

### Step-by-Step Example: Adding Tabby Picks Between Pattern Picks

You have a pattern treadling and want to insert tabby (plain weave) picks between each pattern pick:

1. Create a second document with just a tabby treadling (alternating treadle 1 and 2)
2. In your pattern draft, open **Combine Weft**
3. Select the tabby document as the source
4. Choose **Interleave**, ratio 1:1
5. Set Shift Right to offset the tabby treadles if needed
6. Check **Repeat source**
7. Apply — every pattern pick now has a tabby pick after it

### Step-by-Step Example: Overlaying a Ground Weave

You have a pattern treadling and want to overlay a ground structure:

1. Open your pattern draft and the ground draft
2. Open **Combine Weft**
3. Select the ground document as source
4. Choose **Overlay**
5. Set Shift Right to place the ground on separate treadles
6. Apply — each pick now activates both pattern and ground treadles

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### Tips

* **Interleave adds picks; Overlay doesn't** — Choose interleave when you want extra picks (like tabby between pattern). Choose overlay when you want multiple structures on the same pick.
* **Shift separates treadles** — Use Shift Right to keep source and current treadling on different treadle groups, just like shaft shift in Interleave Warp.
* **Ratio controls density** — A 1:1 ratio doubles your picks (interleave) or affects every pick (overlay). Higher ratios space out the source.
* **Multi-treadle automatic** — Overlay with a shift automatically enables multi-treadle mode so multiple treadles can be active per pick.
* **Works with liftplan** — Combine Weft handles both single-treadle mode and liftplan mode.
* **Undo works** — Ctrl+Z reverts the combine operation.

***

### Quick Reference

| Setting         | What It Does                          |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Source Document | Other open document to combine from   |
| Interleave      | Insert source picks (increases total) |
| Overlay         | Add source treadles to existing picks |
| Start at Pick   | Where combining begins                |
| Shift Right     | Offset source treadle assignments     |
| Ratio           | How frequently source picks appear    |
| Copy colors     | Bring source weft colors              |
| Copy thickness  | Bring source thickness                |
| Repeat source   | Cycle source if shorter               |
| Wrap treadles   | Wrap vs. expand treadle count         |